Ms Kemp said the Danish program GLAD taught people to better manage their conditions in small group exercise sessions as best first line of treatment and in a bid to delay surgery.

A pilot program is underway in Ballarat through Lake Health Group where Ms Kemp has introduced sessions via colleagues, while she works to develop the program as a sport and exercise research fellow at La Trobe University.

“Evidence shows exercise, moving, and education are best to manage arthritis symptoms,” Ms Kemp said.

“Even if you do need surgery, doing the exercises can help aid recovery and has been shown to delay surgery for up to five years.”

Ballarat grandmother Judy Lowne is halfway through the six-week program and said it already had made her more aware of keeping her body strong so she could better enjoy things she wanted to do – and to chase about her grandchildren.

“Doing something physically good is good for your mental health as well,” Ms Lowne said.

“It helps you take responsibility for your own health, giving you more tools to be confident in what you can do.”

Ms Lowne said the program helped ensure she had the right stance and was using the right muscles in her exercises, most of which she could later easily do at home.

Osteoarthritis is a major cause for difficulty with mobility in older Australians. Research from the GLAD program in Denmark shows symptom progression reduces by 32 per cent.

Ms Kemp said proactive exercise was more cost-effective than surgery for individuals and the economy. This included reduced need for medications, delaying surgery and less time off work.

Lake Health Group has a free information session on the GLAD program on October 11 at Saxon House, from 6.30pm.

Details: 53 353 200.